a panicked e-mail to my program coordinator

Hi Sherie,

Not sure if you've been following the news, but literally 4 minutes before my Qantas flight took off from LA to Brisbane, there was a strike at Qantas. We sat on the plane for 2 - 2.5 hours before we got off, and now the airline is putting us up in a hotel in Orange County called *******************.

They don't know anything. They have no idea how long we will be here. I don't know where Hannah ended up, so I hope she contacts you; I don't have a phone. All I know is that her flight to Sydney actually took off and then had to turn around and come back to L.A.

I get internet free for 24 hours.  I'm hoping that after that, the airline will pay the $12.99 charge.  They told us that they will serve us meals and give us a $10 phone credit when we were at the airport, but the hotel doesn't know anything about this yet.  They said they will pass on any correspondence via letters under our hotel room doors.

I am SO disappointed. I hope this all gets sorted out soon.

-Sofia

the airline told me that Hannah's flight to Sydney turned back, but I'm pretty sure she flew with Jetstar, so she's alright.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing. what a mess.